Methods and compositions for improved biomolecule assays on digital microfluidic devices

Abstract

Provided herein are methods, and compositions for the detection and analysis of biomolecule interactions a microfluidic device. The detection and analysis occurs in aqueous droplets within an oil layer having surfactants.

Description

[0001] Methods and compositions for improved biomolecule assays on digital microfluidic devices

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Provided herein are methods and compositions for improved biomolecule assays on digital microfluidic devices. Provided herein are methods, and compositions for on-device protein synthesis and detection thereof. The methods are applicable to monitoring on a microfluidic device.

[0004] BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0005] Electrowetting is the modification of the wetting properties of a surface (which is typically hydrophobic) with an applied electric field. Microfluidic devices for manipulating droplets or magnetic beads based on electrowetting have been extensively described. In the case of droplets in channels this can be achieved by causing the droplets, for example in the presence of an immiscible carrier fluid, to travel through a microfluidic channel defined by the walls of a cartridge or microfluidic tubing. Embedded in the walls of the cartridge or tubing are electrodes covered with a dielectric layer each of which are connected to an A / C biasing circuit capable of being switched on and off rapidly at intervals to modify the electrowetting field characteristics of the layer. This gives rise to the ability to steer the droplet along a given path.

[0006] As an alternative to microfluidic channel systems, droplets can also be generated and manipulated on planar surfaces using digital microfluidics (DMF). In contrast to channel based microfluidics, DMF utilizes alternating currents on an electrode array for moving fluid on the surface of the array. Liquids can thus be moved on an open-plan device by electrowetting. Digital microfluidics allows precise control over the droplet movements including droplet fusion and separation.

[0007] Cell-free protein synthesis, also known as in-vitro protein synthesis or CFPS, is the production of peptides or proteins using biological machinery in a cell-free system, that is, without the use of living cells. The in-vitro protein synthesis environment is not constrained within a cell wall or limited by conditions necessary to maintain cell viability, and enables the rapid production of any desired protein from a nucleic acid template, usually plasmid DNA or RNA from an in-vitro transcription. CFPS has been known for decades, and many commercial systems are available. Cell-free protein synthesis encompasses systems based on crude lysate (Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2016 Dec; 8(12): a023853) and systems based on reconstituted, purified molecular reagents, such as the PURE system for protein production (Methods Mol Biol. 2014; 1118: 275-284). CFPS requires significant concentrations of biomacromolecules, including DNA, RNA, proteins, polysaccharides, molecular crowding agents, and more (Febs Letters 2013, 2, 58, 261-268).

[0008] Lab Chip, 2012, 12, 882 (entitled A completely in-vitro ultrahigh-throughput droplet-based microfluidic screening system for protein engineering and directed evolution) describes a system based on droplets in a flowing capillary channel, not a three-dimensional array based EWoD system.

[0009] United States Patent Application 20210016283 describes microwell array systems for high throughput protein expression.

[0010] US20160230203A1 entitled a Portable Fluidic Platform For Rapid Cell-Free Production of Protein Biologies describes an integrated fluidic platform encompassing, cell-free protein synthesis systems coupled to rapid protein purification and characterization modules enabling production of protein biologies.

[0011] US10464067 describes Air-matrix digital microfluidics (DMF) apparatuses and methods of using them to prevent or limit evaporation and surface fouling of the DMF apparatus.

[0012] W02004002627 disclose formation of droplets in channels. The droplets are suspended in a continuous phase of silicone oil containing surfactant.

[0013] US20070242105, W02013006312 and W02017037078 each disclose filler fluids for droplet handling operations in fluidic systems. The filler fluids can contain surfactants.

[0014] WO2023 / 021295 disclose surfactant combinations which aid detection of expressed proteins.

[0015] To date, digital microfluidics, electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWoD), and electrokinesis in general have only found limited uses in cell-free biological-based applications, mostly due to biofouling, where biological components such as proteins, nucleic acids, crude cell extracts and other bioproducts adsorb and / or denature to hydrophobic surfaces. Biofouling is well known in the art to limit the ability of EWoD devices to manipulate droplets containing biomacromolecules. Wheeler and colleagues report that the maximum actuation time for droplets on EWoD devices containing biological media is 30 min before biofouling inhibits EWoD-based droplet actuation (Langmuir 2011, 1 , 13, 8586-8594).

[0016] Digital microfluidics can be carried out in an air-filled system where the liquid drops are manipulated on the surface in air. However, at elevated temperatures or over prolonged periods, the volatile aqueous droplets simply dry onto the surface by evaporation. This issue is compounded by the high surface area to volume ratio of nanoliter and microliter sized drops. Hence air-filled systems are generally not suitable for protein expression where the temperature of the system needs to be maintained at a temperature suitable for enzyme activity and the duration of the synthesis needs to be prolonged for synthesized proteins levels to be detectable.

[0017] Expressed proteins contain a large variety of properties, including surface charge and hydrophobicity. The expression of a variety of different sequences within the same device may lead to the problem of construct specific pinning or biofouling. The sticking of certain sequences leads to droplets becoming immobilised and thus immune to further electrowetting induced movement. Described herein are certain compositions which help prevent proteins sticking to the hydrophobic surfaces of electrowetting devices.

[0018] SUMMARY

[0019] Here, we report the surprising discovery that adding particular surfactants or combinations of surfactants to the basefluid / oil layer gives dramatically improved performance in a digital microfluidic device for use in biomolecule based applications when compared to prior art surfactants in either the aqueous or oil layers alone.

[0020] Previous reports have shown that use of surfactants in the oil layer is deleterious. For example, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2019, 11, 28487-28498

[0021] (https: / / pubs.acs.org / doi / pdf / 10.1021 / acsami.9b07983) is a demonstration of employing Span80 in dodecane to change contact angle for EWoD. However, when the authors used the composition in a digital microfluidic system (the commercially available OpenDrop), Span80 in dodecane was deleterious and abandoned. Excerpt from Tohgha et al (bold for emphasis):

[0022] The manual control system was subsequently used to investigate the minimum voltage required to move nanofluid droplets across the platform. QD-G-COOH drops required a minimum of 200 V to achieve efficient movement without splitting or pinning when pure dodecane oil was employed as the ambient fluid. However, when a droplet of QD- G-COOH was placed in a system of surfactant doped dodecane (1 wt. % Span 80), both the velocity and stability (incomplete droplet transfer) drastically decreased regardless of the voltage applied (120- 250 V). Droplets moved slowly between electrodes, often with a visible lag in fluid transport, and the velocity was never greater than ca. 5 mm / s (Movie S2). As noted above, the lower interfacial surface tension that arises from the added surfactant decreases the reguired actuation voltages for sessile droplets. While EWoD and DMF are similar in action, the driving force for DMF is more closely related to the sum of the electrostatic forces not just the total change in contact angle. Since the decrease in surface tension lowers the total forces on the droplet, there is less work available to efficiently move the droplets along the electrodes. Consequently, all remaining tests on the OpenDrop device were performed in the absence of surfactant.

[0023] Assays in the reference above did not use biomolecules such as proteins or nucleic acids. In many instances, the presence of certain surfactants is deleterious to biomolecule interactions.

[0024] The inventors have appreciated that the complete removal of surfactants from the aqueous droplets affects the ability to reliably handle droplets on the device. The inventors herein have therefore identified preferred surfactants for use in the aqueous layer in conjunction with preferred surfactants for use in the oil layer. Compositions in which the oil layer contains two or more surfactants, which may be non-ionic surfactants, are disclosed.

[0025] Previously reported oil based surfactants include the non-ionic sorbitan trioleate Span 85. Applicants appreciated that certain protein sequences prevent the further manipulation of droplets on the device. The addition of further surfactants to the oil layer helps prevent the pinning of droplets containing proteins. Both surfactants may be non-ionic surfactants. Additional surfactants may include for example a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether. The BRU series of surfactants are polyoxyethylene based fatty ethers derived from lauryl, cetyl, stearyl and oleyl alcohols with a varying length of oxyethylene -(OCH2CH2)- moieties. A suitable surfactant may include polyethylene (4) glycol dodecyl ether (Brij® L4) (C^FhsfOCI-hCl-h^OH). A suitable surfactant may include Polyoxyethylene (2) cetyl ether (Brij® 52) (CisHaafOCI- CI- hOH). A suitable surfactant may include Polyoxyethylene (2) stearyl ether (Brij® S2) (CI8H37(OCH2CH2)2OH). The polyethylene glycol alkyl ether may be a compound of formula CxHjzx+ijfOCHjCHzJyOH where x is an integer between 8 and 20 and y is independently an integer between 2 and 100. Applicants have appreciated that the use of a composition containing a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether such as Brij® L4, Brij® S2 or Brij® 52 in the oil phase is beneficial to prevent proteins in aqueous phase droplets from pinning the droplets and preventing motion of the droplets. The Brij® L4, Brij® S2 or Brij® 52 may be used in combination with other surfactants, for example sorbitan esters.

[0026] Disclosed is a digital microfluidic device comprising a two-dimensional array of planar electrodes wherein the device comprises a population of aqueous droplets containing proteins within a bulk oil phase, wherein the bulk oil phase contains two or more surfactants. The first and second surfactant in the oil phase may both be non-ionic surfactants, such as for example a mixture of a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether and a sorbitan ester. A suitable surfactant combination may include polyethylene (4) glycol dodecyl ether (Brij® L4) (CnFhsfOCI-hCl-hhOH) and sorbitan trioleate. A suitable surfactant combination may include polyoxyethylene (2) cetyl ether (Brij® 52) (CigHaafOCHjCHz OH) and sorbitan trioleate. A suitable surfactant combination may include polyoxyethylene (2) stearyl ether (Brij® S2) (CigHayfOCHjCHz OH) and sorbitan trioleate.

[0027] Disclosed is a digital microfluidic device comprising a two-dimensional array of planar electrodes wherein the device comprises a population of aqueous droplets containing protein, wherein the aqueous droplets are within a bulk oil phase and wherein the bulk oil phase contains two or more non-ionic surfactants. Disclosed is a digital microfluidic device comprising a two-dimensional array of planar electrodes wherein the device comprises a population of aqueous droplets containing proteins within a bulk oil phase, wherein the bulk oil phase contains a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether. Disclosed is a digital microfluidic device comprising a two-dimensional array of planar electrodes wherein the device comprises a population of aqueous droplets containing proteins within a bulk oil phase, wherein the bulk oil phase contains a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether such as Brij® L4, Brij® S2 or Brij® 52.

[0028] Oils could be mineral oils or synthetic oils, including silicone oils, petroleum oils, and perfluorinated oils or a mix thereof. Particular oils include decane or dodecane or silicone oils such as octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (CTS), decamethyltetrasiloxane (DMTS) or dodecamethylpentasiloxane (DMPS). The terms 'basefluid', 'filler fluid' or 'oil' are used interchangeably herein. High levels of surfactants in the aqueous layer can have a detrimental effect on (1) the CFPS reactions and (2) the efficiency of the detection system (if the detection system involves complementation of a tag and detector). Hence this invention where the surfactant is reduced in the aqueous layer has the potential to solve many problems in the use of digital microfluidic (DMF) devices for biological applications. For example, by performing the CFPS reaction on- DMF with oil-surfactant mix, the detection of the expressed protein can proceed without dilution and without needing high levels of aqueous surfactant. It has been shown that high levels of certain surfactants reduce the efficiency of some detection systems reliant on protein-protein interactions, so reducing surfactants from the reagent mix and instead adding them to the oil is beneficial.

[0029] Since moving the surfactant to the oil has a benefit of speed and ease of sample handling (such as loading samples onto a digital microfluidic device), this invention could be used and be beneficial for biological reactions which would be performed on-DMF, for example enzymatic DNA synthesis, DNA assembly, protein expression, protein purification, protein binding, and protein activity assays as well as the handling and manipulation of cells.

[0030] The aqueous droplets may contain substantially reduced surfactant compared to systems that operate without surfactant in the oil phase. A minimal level of surfactant in the aqueous droplets may reduce biofouling in certain cases, which along with a minimal level of surfactant in the filler fluid allows both droplet handling and biochemical processes.

[0031] The oil can be mineral oil, silicone oil, an alkyl-based solvent, or a fluorinated oil or a blend thereof. The alkyl solvent can be decane or dodecane. The oil may be octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (CTS), decamethyltetrasiloxane (DMTS), dodecamethylpentasiloxane (DM PS).

[0032] The surfactants can be mixtures of different surfactants. One of the surfactants in the mixture can be a non-ionic surfactant. One of the surfactants can be a sorbitan ester. One of the surfactants can be a Span surfactant. One of the surfactants can be Span85.

[0033] The droplets can be dispensed, moved, split or combined using a subset of the electrodes on the device. The concentration of the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether may be between 25 and 1000 parts per million volume. The concentration of the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether may be between 25 and 100 parts per million volume. The concentration of the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether may be between 50 and 75 parts per million volume. The concentration of the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether may be 75 parts per million volume.

[0034] The concentration of the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether Brij® L4 may be up to 2000 parts per million volume. The concentration of the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether Brij® L4 may be between 25 and 2000 parts per million volume. The concentration of the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether Brij® L4 may be between 25 and 1000 parts per million volume. The concentration of the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether Brij® L4 may be between 25 and 500 parts per million volume. The concentration of the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether Brij® L4 may be between 25 and 100 parts per million volume. The concentration of the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether Brij® L4 may be between 50 and 75 parts per million volume. The concentration of the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether Brij® L4 may be 75 parts per million volume. The concentration of the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether may be higher where the sorbitan ester is lower or absent.

[0035] Disclosed is a device having 0.05% w / w Pluronic F127 in an aqueous buffer in a filler fluid of 0.1% span85 and 75 ppm polyethylene glycol alkyl ether in dodecamethylpentasiloxane (DMPS). Disclosed is a device having 0.05% w / w Pluronic F127 in an aqueous buffer in a filler fluid of 0.1% span85 and 75 ppm Brij® L4, Brij® S2 or Brij® 52 in dodecamethylpentasiloxane (DMPS).

[0036] The concentration of the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether may be higher where the sorbitan ester is lower or absent. Disclosed is a device having 0.05% w / w Pluronic F127 in an aqueous buffer in a filler fluid of between 50 and 1000 ppm polyethylene glycol alkyl ether in dodecamethylpentasiloxane (DMPS). Disclosed is a device having 0.05% w / w Pluronic F127 in an aqueous buffer in a filler fluid of between 50 and 1000 ppm Brij® L4 in dodecamethylpentasiloxane (DMPS). Disclosed is a filler fluid of between 25 and 2000 ppm Brij® L4 in dodecamethylpentasiloxane (DMPS). Disclosed is a filler fluid of between 50 and 500 ppm Brij® L4 in dodecamethylpentasiloxane (DMPS).

[0037] Disclosed is a method for the cell-free expression of peptides or proteins in a digital microfluidic device, wherein the method comprises one or more droplets containing a nucleic acid template and a cell-free system having components for protein expression containing a first surfactant in an oil-filled environment, wherein the oil contains two or more non-ionic surfactants, and moving said droplets using electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWoD).

[0038] Disclosed is a method for the cell-free expression of peptides or proteins in a digital microfluidic device, wherein the method comprises one or more droplets containing a nucleic acid template and a cell-free system having components for protein expression containing a first surfactant in an oil-filled environment, wherein the oil contains Brij® L4, Brij® S2 or Brij® 52, and moving said droplets using electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWoD).

[0039] The cell-free system can be a cell-free extract for protein expression. The cell-free system can be prepared from individual reagents. The method can merge droplets. For example merging a first droplet containing a nucleic acid plasmid with a second droplet containing a cell-free system having the components for protein expression to form a combined droplet on the microfluidic device. The method can be performed on a plurality of droplets having a different nucleic acid template. For example merging a plurality of first droplets containing a nucleic acid template with a plurality of second droplets containing a cell-free system having the components for protein expression to form multiple combined droplets capable of cell-free protein synthesis.

[0040] The method can split droplets. The split droplets can be further merged, for example with additive droplets for screening. The droplets can be analysed, for example using optical means such as fluorescence or luminescence. For example, expressed peptides or proteins can be detected by optical means.

[0041] Disclosed is a method for the cell-free expression of peptides or proteins in a digital microfluidic device having an oil-filled environment comprising a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether, the method comprising: a. taking a plurality of droplets having a different nucleic acid template, b. taking a plurality of droplets each containing a cell-free system having the components for protein expression, c. combining the droplets of a. and b. using electrowetting-on-dielectric phenomena to produce a plurality of droplets capable of expressing proteins of different sequence, the droplets containing a first surfactant, d. mixing the droplets to enable cell-free protein expression, and e. detecting the expression of proteins within individual droplets.

[0042] The polyethylene glycol alkyl ether may be Brij® L4, Brij® S2 or Brij® 52

[0043] Disclosed is a method wherein the droplets capable of expressing proteins of different sequence are merged with additive droplets for screening protein expression levels.

[0044] Disclosed is a kit for preparing a plurality of peptide or proteins comprising a. a digital microfluidic device; b. a reagent source to generate a plurality of droplets containing a cell-free system having the components for protein expression and a first surfactant; and c. an oil, optionally mineral oil, silicone oil, an alkyl-based solvent such as decane or dodecane or a fluorinated oil or a mix thereof, wherein the oil contains a contains polyethylene glycol alkyl ether such as Brij® L4, Brij® S2 or Brij® 52.

[0045] The kit can further include ribosomes, enzymes, initiation factors, nucleotide monomers, amino acid monomers, metal ions and energy sources. In kits the surfactant can be non-ionic, for example Span85.

[0046] Disclosed is a kit having reagent droplets containing Pluronic F127 in an oil containing Span85 and a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether such as Brij® L4, Brij® S2 or Brij® 52. The oil may be octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (CTS), decamethyltetrasiloxane (DMTS) or dodecamethylpentasiloxane (DM PS).

[0047] The kit may contain polyethylene glycol alkyl ether Brij® L4 at a concentration between 25 and 2000 parts per million volume. The kit may contain polyethylene glycol alkyl ether Brij® L4 at a concentration between 50 and 1000 parts per million volume. The kit may contain polyethylene glycol alkyl ether Brij® L4 at a concentration between 50 and 500 parts per million volume.

[0048] Disclosed herein is a method for the monitoring of cell-free protein synthesis in a droplet on a digital microfluidic device comprising a. cell-free transcription and translation of a protein of interest fused to a peptide tag; and b. monitoring the presence of the peptide tag using a further polypeptide which in the presence of the peptide tag produces a detectable signal.

[0049] The use of the terms "in-vitro" and "cell-free" may be used interchangeably herein.

[0050] The detectable signal may be for example fluorescence or luminescence. The detectable signal may also be caused by the binding of a ligand to the complemented oligopeptide, peptide, or polypeptide tag fused to the protein of interest. The detectable signal may also be caused by the binding of the polypeptide detector to the protein of interest fused to a His-tag.

[0051] Any in-vitro transcription and translation may be used, for example extract-based systems derived from rabbit reticulocyte lysate, Chinese Hamster Ovary lysate, a wheat germ, HEK293 lysate, E. coli lysate, yeast lysate.

[0052] Alternatively the in-vitro transcription and translation may be assembled from purified components, for example a system of purified recombinant elements (PURE).

[0053] The in-vitro transcription and translation may be coupled or uncoupled.

[0054] The peptide tag may be one component of a fluorescent protein and the further polypeptide a complementary portion of the fluorescent protein. The fluorescent protein could include sfGFP, GFP, eGFP, ccGFP, deGFP, frGFP, eYFP, eBFP, eCFP, Citrine, Venus, Cerulean, Dronpa, DsRED, mKate, mCherry, mRFP, FAST, SmURFP, miRFP670nano. For example the peptide tag may be GFPn and the further polypeptide GFPi-io. The peptide tag may be one component of sfCherry. The peptide tag may be sfCherryn and the further polypeptide sfCherryi-w. The peptide tag may be CFASTn or CFASTw and the further polypeptide NFAST in the presence of a hydroxybenzylidene rhodanine analog.

[0055] For example, the GFPi-io polypeptide amino acid sequence could be derived from sfGFP:

[0056] MSKGEELFTGVVPILVELDGDVNGHKFSVRGEGEGDATNGKLTLKFICTTGKLPVPWPTLVTTLTYGVQCFS RYPDHMKRHDFFKSAMPEGYVQERTISFKDDGTYKTRAEVKFEGDTLVNRIELKGIDFKEDGNILGHKLEYN FNSHNVYITADKQKNGIKANFKIRHNVEDGSVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNHYLSTQSVLSKDPNEK

[0057] Alternatively, the GFPi-io polypeptide amino acid sequence could be further mutated from the sequence above to become brighter more quickly upon complementation: MSKGEELFTGVVPILVELDGDVNGHKFSVRGEGEGDATIGKLTLKFICTTGKLPVPWPTLVTTLTYGVQCFSR YPDHMKRHDFFKSAMPEGYVQERTISFKDDGKYKTRAVVKFEGDTLVNRIELKGTDFKEDGNILGHKLEYNF NSHNVYITADKQKNGIKANFTVRHNVEDGSVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNHYLSTQTVLSKDPNEK

[0058] Alternatively, the GFP1-10 polypeptide amino acid sequence could be further mutated from the sequence above to have improved properties such as higher solubility or improved expression.

[0059] The complementary GFPn peptide amino acid sequence could be the following:

[0060] 1. KRDHMVLLEFVTAAGITGT

[0061] 2. KRDHMVLHEFVTAAGITGT

[0062] 3. KRDHMVLHESVNAAGIT

[0063] 4. RDHMVLHEYVNAAGIT

[0064] 5. GDAVQIQEHAVAKYFTV

[0065] 6. GDTVQLQEHAVAKYFTV

[0066] 7. GETIQLQEHAVAKYFTE

[0067] GFPn or GFPi-io can be fused to the protein of interest through an amino acid linker. In one embodiment, the oligopeptide, peptide, or polypeptide linker can be 0 - 50 amino acids.

[0068] For example, the sfCherryiuo polypeptide amino acid sequence could be:

[0069] MEEDNMAIIKEFMRFKVHM EGSVNGHEFEIEGEGEGHPYEGTQTAKLKVTKGGPLPFAWDILSPQFMYGS KAYVKHPADIPDYLKLSFPEGFTWERVM NFEDGGVVTVTQDSSLQDGEFIYKVKLLGTNFPSDGPVMQKKT MGWEASTERMYPEDGALKGEINQRLKLKDGGHYDAEVKTTYKAKKPVQLPGAYNVDIKLDITSHNED

[0070] The complementary sfCherryu peptide amino acid sequence could be:

[0071] YTIVEQYERAEGRHSTGG sfCherryu or sfCherryi-w can be fused to the protein of interest through an amino acid linker.

[0072] In one embodiment, the oligopeptide, peptide, or polypeptide linker can be 0 - 50 amino acids.

[0073] For example, the NFAST polypeptide amino acid sequence could be:

[0074] MEHVAFGSEDIENTLAKMDDGQLDGLAFGAIQLDGDGNILQYNAAEGDITGRDPKQVIGKNFFKDVAPGT DSPEFYGKFKEGVASGNLNTMFEWM IPTSRGPTKVKVHM KKALS

[0075] The complementary CFASTu peptide amino acid sequence could be: GDSYWVFVKRV

[0076] Or the complementary CFASTio peptide amino acid sequence could be:

[0077] GDSYWVFVKR

[0078] NFAST, CFASTn, and / or CFASTio can be fused to the protein of interest through an amino acid linker. In one embodiment, the oligopeptide, peptide, or polypeptide linker can be 0 - 50 amino acids.

[0079] The peptide tag may also be one component of a protein that forms a detectable substrate, such as a luminescent or colorigenic substrate. The protein could include beta-galactosidase, beta-lactamase, or luciferase.

[0080] The protein may be fused to multiple tags. For example the protein may be fused to multiple GFPn peptide tags and the synthesis occurs in the presence of multiple GFPi-io polypeptides. For example the protein may be fused to multiple sfCherryn peptide tags and the synthesis occurs in the presence of multiple sfCherryno polypeptides. The protein of interest may be fused to one or more sfCherryn peptide tags and one or more GFPn peptide tags and the synthesis occurs in the presence of one or more GFPi-io polypeptides and one or more sfCherryno polypeptides.

[0081] Any protein of interest may be synthesised. The protein may be an enzyme, for example a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) enzyme or a truncated version thereof or the homologous amino acid sequence of a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) enzyme in other species or the homologous amino acid sequence of Polp, Poip, PoIX, and Pol0 of any species or the homologous amino acid sequence of X family polymerases of any species.

[0082] The synthesis may be performed in a microfluidic device, for example an electrowetting-on- dielectric (EWoD) device.

[0083] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0084] Figure 1 shows in-tube expression of a fluorescent protein under an oil layer having various concentrations of detergent.

[0085] Figure 2 shows quantitation of the tubes in Figure 1. The level of surfactant does not inhibit expression. Figure 3 shows the effects of increasing and decreasing Span85 in an electrowetting cartridge. Left side = pinned DHFR RZ's.

[0086] Right side = Not pinned WF control.

[0087] Figure 4 shows the effects of Brij L4 as a basefluid additive. Figure 4a shows images where the droplets of DHFR protein having 25 ppm Brij L4 in basefluid pin and cause further liquid to accumulate in the pinned areas. The larger droplets in the top of the images are unable to be moved using electrowetting. Figure 4b uses 50 ppm Brij L4, and no pinning or accumulation is seen and all droplets can be moved when the same proteins are expressed in the droplets.

[0088] Figure 5 shows the effects of Brij L4 as a basefluid additive. The left images are lacking Brij L4 and show significant droplet pinning where droplets are missing from the images. The right images show droplets expressing the same proteins where the basefluid contains BRIJ L4. All the droplets are present and move as expected.

[0089] Figure 6 shows schematically one embodiment of the invention. The cell-free protein synthesis reaction contains a nucleic acid template containing the expression cassette for the gene of interest fused to a detectable tag, which is then expressed into the protein of interest through coupled or uncoupled in-vitro transcription and in-vitro translation. The protein of interest is thus fused to a detectable peptide tag at the N- or C-termini. The nature of the detectable peptide tag is that it can be complemented with a complementary polypeptide resulting in a protein that is fluorescent.

[0090] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0091] Disclosed herein is a digital microfluidic device comprising a two-dimensional array of planar electrodes wherein the device comprises a population of aqueous droplets containing biomolecules within a bulk oil phase, wherein the bulk oil phase contains a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether surfactant. The inventors have appreciated that combinations of two or more nonionic surfactants in the basefluid / oil layer are beneficial to prevent proteins in the aqueous droplets from pinning to the surface.

[0092] Droplet pinning is an undesirable phenotype whereby certain aqueous droplets become immobile during the course of an electrowetting droplet operations, and can not then be moved by electrowetting. The property appears to be caused by the presence of certain proteins in the droplets. The pinning is catastrophic for electrowetting experiments as all further droplets crash into the stationary droplets and prevent any further use of the device or any results being obtained for those areas where the droplets pin.

[0093] Applicants herein have discovered that the use of certain surfactant compositions in the oil layer help prevent protein droplet pinning during electrowetting operations.

[0094] Disclosed herein is a method for the monitoring of cell-free protein synthesis in a droplet on a digital microfluidic device comprising a. cell-free transcription and translation of a protein of interest fused to a peptide tag; and b. monitoring the presence of the peptide tag using a further polypeptide which in the presence of the peptide tag produces a detectable signal.

[0095] Disclosed is a method for the cell-free expression of peptides or proteins in a digital microfluidic device. The droplets having the components required for cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS), otherwise known as in-vitro protein synthesis, can be manipulated by electrokinesis in order to effect and improve protein expression.

[0096] In order to prevent pinning, a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether surfactant may be added to the oil layer. The polyethylene glycol alkyl ether surfactant may be used in combination with other non-ionic surfactants such as sorbitan esters. The polyethylene glycol alkyl ether surfactant may be Brij® L4, Brij® S2 or Brij® 52. The polyethylene glycol alkyl ether surfactant may be polyethylene (4) glycol dodecyl ether (Brij® L4) (CizHzsfOCHjCHz^OH). Disclosed is the use of polyethylene (4) glycol dodecyl ether (Brij® L4) in the oil phase of an electrowetting-on- dielectric device. When used in devices where the aqueous droplet contain proteins, the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether surfactant helps prevent aqueous droplets containing protein from pinning on the device.

[0097] Described herein are improved methods allowing for the cell-free expression of peptides or proteins in a digital microfluidic device. Included is a method for the cell-free expression of peptides or proteins in a microfluidic device wherein the method comprises one or more droplets containing a nucleic acid template (i.e., DNA or RNA) and a cell-free system having components for protein expression in an oil-filled environment, and moving said droplets using electrokinesis. The components for the cell-free protein synthesis droplet can be pre-mixed prior to introduction to or mixed on the digital microfluidic device. The oil layer contains the surfactant required on the device.

[0098] The droplet can be repeatedly moved for at least a period of 30 minutes whilst the protein is expressed. The droplet can be repeatedly moved for at least a period of two hours whilst the protein is expressed. The droplet can be repeatedly moved for at least a period of twelve hours whilst the protein is expressed. The act of moving the droplet allows oxygen to be supplied to the droplet and dispersed throughout the droplet. The act of moving improves the level of protein expression over a droplet which remains static.

[0099] The droplet can be moved using any means of electrokinesis. The droplet can be moved using electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWoD). The electrical signal on the EWoD or optical EWoD device can be delivered through segmented electrodes, active-matrix thin-film transistors, or digital micromirrors.

[0100] The oil in the device can be any water immiscible liquid. The oil can be mineral oil, silicone oil such as dodecamethylpentasiloxane, an alkyl-based solvent such as decane or dodecane, or a fluorinated oil. The oil can be oxygenated prior to or during the expression process.

[0101] The silicone oil can be octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (CTS), decamethyltetrasiloxane (DMTS) or dodecamethylpentasiloxane (DM PS).

[0102] The concentration of the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether surfactant may be between 25 and 100 ppm. Lower concentrations limit the desired benefit of reducing pinning. Higher levels have too low a surface tension be handled in the device, typically resulting in higher levels of air ingress.

[0103] The aqueous layer can also contain a surfactant. The surfactant in the aqueous layer can be a pluronic surfactant. Pluronic surfactants are also known as poloxamers, and are a class of synthetic block copolymers which consist of hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and hydrophobic polypropylene oxide) (PPO), arranged in an A-B-A triblock structure, thus giving PEO-PPO-PEO. The surfactant may be Pluronic F127. The pluronic surfactant can be present at less than 0.1%. High levels of surfactant are detrimental to the detection of protein expression. The pluronic concentration can be between 0.025 and 0.1 %. The concentration may be 0.05%.

[0104] Disclosed is a composition comprising 0.05% w / w Pluronic F127 in an aqueous buffer in a filler fluid of 0.1% span85 and between 25-100 ppm Brij® L4, Brij® S2 or Brij® 52 in dodecamethylpentasiloxane (DMPS) and use thereof in electrowetting applications, including protein expression. Disclosed is a composition comprising 0.05% w / w Pluronic F127 in an aqueous buffer in a filler fluid of 0.1% span85 and between 50-75 ppm Brij® L4, Brij® S2 or Brij® 52 in dodecamethylpentasiloxane (DMPS) and use thereof in electrowetting applications, including protein expression.

[0105] A source of supplemental oxygen can be supplied to the droplets. For example droplets or gas bubbles containing gaseous or dissolved oxygen can be merged with the droplets during the protein expression. Additionally, a source of supplemental oxygen can be found by oxygenating the oil that is used as the filler medium. It is well-known in the art that oils such as hexadecane, HFE-7500, and others can be oxygenated to support the oxygen requirements of cell growth, especially E. coli cell growth (RSCAdv., 2017, 7, 40990-40995). Oxygenation can be achieved by aerating the oil with pure oxygen or atmospheric air. Oxygenation can be achieved by replenishing or agitating the basefluid.

[0106] The droplets can be formed before entering the microfluidic device and flowed into the device. Alternatively the droplets can be merged on the device. Included is a method comprising merging a first droplet containing a nucleic acid template such as a plasmid with a second droplet containing a cell-free extract having the components for protein expression to form a combined droplet capable of cell-free protein synthesis.

[0107] The droplets can be split on the device either before or after expression. Included herein is a method further comprising splitting the aqueous droplet into multiple droplets. If desired the split droplets can be screened with further additives. Included is a method wherein one or more of the split droplets are merged with additive droplets for screening.

[0108] The cell-free expression of peptides or proteins can use a cell lysate having the reagents to enable protein expression. Common components of a cell-free reaction include an energy source, a supply of amino acids, cofactors such as magnesium, and the relevant enzymes. A cell extract is obtained by lysing the cell of interest and removing the cell walls, DNA genome, and other debris by centrifugation. The remains are the cell machinery including ribosomes, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, translation initiation and elongation factors, nucleases, etc. Once a suitable nucleic acid template is added, the nucleic acid template can be expressed as a peptide or protein using the cell derived expression machinery.

[0109] Any particular nucleic acid template can be expressed using the system described herein. Three types of nucleic acid templates used in CFPS include plasmids, linear expression templates (LETs), and mRNA. Plasmids are circular templates, which can be produced either in cells or synthetically. LETs can be made via PCR. While LETs are easier and faster to make, plasmid yields are usually higher in CFPS. mRNA can be produced through in-vitro transcription systems. The methods use a single nucleic acid template per droplet. The methods can use multiple droplets having a different nucleic acid template per droplet.

[0110] An energy source is an important part of a cell-free reaction. Usually, a separate mixture containing the needed energy source, along with a supply of amino acids, is added to the extract for the reaction. Common sources are phosphoenolpyruvate, acetyl phosphate, and creatine phosphate. The energy source can be replenished during the expression process by adding further reagents to the droplet during the process.

[0111] The cell-free extract having the components for protein expression includes everything required for protein expression apart from the nucleic acid template. Thus the term includes all the relevant ribosomes, enzymes, initiation factors, nucleotide monomers, amino acid monomers, metal ions and energy sources. Once the nucleic acid template is added, protein expression is initiated without further reagents being required.

[0112] Thus the cell-lysate can be supplemented with additional reagents prior to the template being added. The cell-free extract having the components for protein expression would typically be produced as a bulk reagent or 'master mix' which can be formulated into many identical droplets prior to the distinct template being separately added to separate droplets. Common cell extracts in use today are made from E. coli (ECE), rabbit reticulocytes (RRL), wheat germ (WGE), insect cells (ICE) and Yeast Kluyveromyces (the D2P system). All of these extracts are commercially available.

[0113] Rather than originating from a cell extract, the cell-free system can be assembled from the required reagents. Systems based on reconstituted, purified molecular reagents are commercially available, for example the PURE system for protein production, and can be used as supplied. The PURE system is composed of all the enzymes that are involved in transcription and translation, as well as highly purified 70S ribosomes. The protein synthesis reaction of the PURE system lacks proteases and ribonucleases, which are often present as undesired molecules in cell extracts.

[0114] The term digital microfluidic device refers to a device having a two-dimensional array of planar microelectrodes. The term excludes any devices simply having droplets in a flow of oil in a channel. The droplets are moved over the surface by electrokinetic forces by activation of particular electrodes. Upon activation of the electrodes the dielectric layer becomes less hydrophobic, thus causing the droplet to spread onto the surface. A digital microfluidic (DMF) device set-up is known in the art, and depends on the substrates used, the electrodes, the configuration of those electrodes, the use of a dielectric material, the thickness of that dielectric material, the hydrophobic layers, and the applied voltage.

[0115] Once the CFPS reagents have been enclosed in the droplets, additional reagents can be supplied by merging the original droplet with a second droplet. The second droplet can carry any desired additional reagents, including for example oxygen or 'power' sources, or test reagents to which it is desired to expose to the expressed protein.

[0116] The droplets can be aqueous droplets. The droplets can contain an oil immiscible organic solvent such as for example DMSO. The droplets can be a mixture of water and solvent, providing the droplets do not dissolve into the bulk oil.

[0117] The droplets containing the cell-free extract having the components for protein expression will therefore typically be in the oil filled environment before the nucleic acid templates are added to the droplets. The templates can be added by merging droplets on the microfluidic device. Alternatively, the templates can be added to the droplets outside the device and then flowed into the device for the expression process. For example the expression process can be initiated on the device by increasing the temperature. The expression system typically operates optimally at temperatures above standard room temperatures, for example at or above 29 °C.

[0118] The expression process typically takes many hours. Thus the process should be left for at least 30 minutes or 1 hour, typically at least 2 hours. Expression can be left for at least 12 hours. During the process of expression the droplets should be moved within the device. The moving improves the process by mixing the reagents and ensuring sufficient oxygen is available within the droplet. The moving can be continuous, or can be repeated with intervening periods of non-movement.

[0119] Thus the aqueous droplet can be repeatedly moved for at least a period of 30 minutes or one hour whilst the protein is expressed. The aqueous droplet can be repeatedly moved for at least a period of two hours whilst the protein is expressed. The aqueous droplet can be repeatedly moved for at least a period of twelve hours whilst the protein is expressed. The act of moving the droplet allows mixing within the droplet, and allows oxygen or other reagents to be supplied to the droplet. The act of moving improves the level of protein expression over a droplet which remains static.

[0120] Digital microfluidics (DMF) refers to a two-dimensional planar surface platform for lab-on-a- chip systems that is based upon the manipulation of microdroplets. Droplets can be dispensed, moved, stored, mixed, reacted, or analyzed on a platform with a set of insulated electrodes. Digital microfluidics can be used together with analytical analysis procedures such as mass spectrometry, colorimetry, electrochemical, and electrochemiluminescense.

[0121] The droplet can be moved using any means of electrokinesis. The aqueous droplet can be moved using electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWoD). Electrowetting on a dielectric (EWoD) is a variant of the electrowetting phenomenon that is based on dielectric materials. During EWoD, a droplet of a conducting liquid is placed on a dielectric layer with insulating and hydrophobic properties. Upon activation of the electrodes the dielectric layer becomes less hydrophobic, thus causing the droplet to spread onto the surface.

[0122] The electrical signal on the EWoD or optically-activated amorphous silicon (a-Si) EWoD device can be delivered through segmented electrodes, active-matrix thin-film transistors or digital micromirrors. Optically-activated s-Si EWoD devices are well known in the art for actuating droplets (J. Adhes. Sci. Technol., 2012, 26, 1747-1771).

[0123] A source of supplemental oxygen can be supplied to the droplets. For example droplets or gas bubbles containing gaseous or dissolved oxygen can be merged with the aqueous droplets during the protein expression. Alternatively the source of oxygen can be a molecular source which releases oxygen. Alternatively the droplets can be moved to an air / liquid boundary to enable increased diffusion of oxygen from a gaseous environment. Alternatively the oil can be oxygenated. Through an affinity tag, such as a FLAG-tag, HIS-tag, GST-tag, MBP-tag, STREP-tag, or other form of affinity tag, CFPS-expressed proteins can be immobilized to a solid-support affinity resin and fresh batches of CFPS reagent can be delivered over the said resin. Thus, renewed reagents can be used to carry out protein synthesis, closely mimicking industrial methods of continuous flow (CF) and continuous exchange (CE) CFPS. By mimicking CF- and CE-CFPS, users can scale up their CFPS production methods.

[0124] The droplets can be actuated on a hydrophobic surface on the digital microfluidic device (ACS Nano 2018, 12, 6, 6050-6058). The hydrophobic surface can be a hydrophobic surface such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Teflon AF (DuPont Inc), CYTOP (AGC Chemicals Inc), or FluoroPei (Cytonix LLC). The hydrophobic surface may be modified in such a way to reduce biofouling, especially biofouling resulting from exposure to CFPS reagents or nucleic acid reagents. The hydrophobic surface may also be superhydrophobic, such as NeverWet (NeverWet LLC) or Ultra-Ever Dry (Flotech Performance Systems Ltd). Superhydrophobic surfaces prevent biofouling compared with typical fluorocarbon-based hydrophobic surfaces. Superhydrophobic surfaces thus prolong the capability of digital microfluidic devices to move CFPS droplets and general solutions containing biopolymers (RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 49633-49648). The hydrophobic surface can also be a slippery liquid infused porous surface (SLIPS), which can be formed by infusing Krtox-103 oil (DuPont) with porous PTFE film (Lab Chip, 2019, 19, 2275). For electrowetting on dielectrics (EWoD), the change in contact angle of reagent upon the application of electric potential is an inverse function of surface tension. Thus, for low voltage EWoD operations, reduction in surface tension is achieved by addition of surfactants to reagents, which for CFPS reactions means to the lysate and to the DNA. This results in a dilution of the lysate, and it has been seen, in experiments, that diluting the lysate results in a decrease in expression level of the protein of interest. Thus performing CFPS on DMF where the surfactants are added to the solutions being moved will necessarily result in a dilution of the lysate and thus a decrease in the level of protein expression. In addition to being a problem in its own right, this further complicates extrapolation of on-DMF results to in-tube predictions of protein yield. An additional detriment of having to add surfactants to the samples is that this increases the time required for sample preparation, as well as increasing the potential for inconsistent results due to 'user error,' as there is more handling of reagents. An additional detriment of having to add surfactants to the samples is that certain downstream operations are hindered. For example, if a protein of interest is expressed in a cell-free system with a GFPn (or similar) peptide tag, it's downstream complementation with a GFPi-io detector polypeptide is hindered in the presence of surfactant. Rather than adding surfactants to the aqueous sample, it is instead possible to surfactant combinations, such as a sorbitan ester such as Span85 (e.g. https: / / www.sigmaaldrich.com / GB / en / product / mm / 840124), and a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether, such as Brij® L4, Brij® S2 or Brij® 52, to the oil. This has the advantages of enabling CFPS reactions to proceed on-DMF without dilution or adulteration. Additionally, it simplifies the sample preparation procedure for setting up the reactions, increasing the ease of use and the consistency of results. Using 1% w / w Span85 and 25-100 ppm Brij® L4, Brij® S2 or Brij® 52 in DMPS allows for dilution-free CFPS reactions on-DMF, as well as dilution-free detection of the expressed non-fluorescent proteins. Other surfactants besides Span85 and Brij L4, and oils other than DMPS could be used. A range of concentrations of Span85 could be used. Oils could be mineral oils or synthetic oils, including silicone oils, petroleum oils, and perfluorinated oils. Surfactants can have a detrimental effect on (1) the CFPS reactions and (2) the efficiency of the detection system (if the detection system involves complementation of a tag and detector). For example, by performing the CFPS reaction on-DMF with oil-surfactant mix, the detection of the expressed protein can also proceed without dilution and without adding high levels of aqueous surfactant. It has been shown that surfactants reduce the efficiency of some detection systems, including but not limited to the split GFP system, so removing surfactants from the aqueous droplet reagent mix and instead adding them to the oil can be beneficial.

[0125] The filler fluid may be selected to have a particular surface or interfacial tension with the droplet phase or with the droplet microactuator surfaces. Surfactants can be added to the filler fluid to stabilize liquid films that may be present between the droplet and solid phases. Examples of suitable surfactants include nonionic low HLB (hydrophile-lipophile balanced) surfactant. The HLB preferably less than about 10 or less than about 5. Suitable examples include: Triton X-15 (HLB=4.9) (octylphenol ethoxylate); Span 85 (HLB 1.8) (sorbitan trioleate); Span 65 (2.1) (sorbitan tristearate); Span 83 (3.7) (sorbitan sesquioleate); Span 80 (4.3) (sorbitan monoleate); Span 60 (4.7) (sorbitan monostearate); and fluorinated surfactants.

[0126] The Brij series of surfactants are a series of polyoxyethylene based fatty ethers derived from fatty alcohols, including lauryl, cetyl, stearyl and oleyl alcohols with a varying length of oxyethylene -(OCH2CH2)- moieties. The polyethylene glycol alkyl ether may be a compound of formula CxH(2x+i)(OCH2CH2)yOH where x is an integer between 8 and 20 and y is independently an integer between 2 and 100. The Brij surfactants are named according to the number of ethylene oxide units and the length of the fatty alcohol chain. Some common Brij surfactants are named as:

[0127] Brij 30 (Brij L23) Chemical Name: Polyoxyethylene (4) lauryl ether,

[0128] Brij 35 Chemical Name: Polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether,

[0129] Brij 52 Chemical Name: Polyoxyethylene (2) cetyl ether,

[0130] Brij 56 Chemical Name: Polyoxyethylene (10) cetyl ether,

[0131] Brij 58 Chemical Name: Polyoxyethylene (20) cetyl ether,

[0132] Brij 72 Chemical Name: Polyoxyethylene (2) stearyl ether,

[0133] Brij 76 Chemical Name: Polyoxyethylene (10) stearyl ether,

[0134] Brij 78 Chemical Name: Polyoxyethylene (20) stearyl ether,

[0135] Brij 92 Chemical Name: Polyoxyethylene (2) oleyl ether,

[0136] Brij 96 Chemical Name: Polyoxyethylene (10) oleyl ether,

[0137] Brij 97 Chemical Name: Polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether.

[0138] BRIJ CS20 Ceteareth-20

[0139] BRIJ C2 Ceteth-2

[0140] BRIJ CIO Ceteth-10

[0141] BRIJ C20 Ceteth-20

[0142] BRIJ IC20 lsoceteth-20

[0143] BRIJ L4 Laureth-4

[0144] BRIJ L23 Laureth-23

[0145] BRIJ 02 Oleth-2

[0146] BRIJ 03 Oleth-3

[0147] BRIJ 05 Oleth-5

[0148] BRIJ OlO OIeth-lO

[0149] BRIJ 0200leth-20

[0150] BRIJ S2 Steareth-2

[0151] BRIJ S10 Steareth-10

[0152] BRIJ S20 Steareth-20

[0153] BRIJ S100 Steareth-100

[0154] BRIJ S721 Steareth-21

[0155] A suitable surfactant may include polyethylene (4) glycol dodecyl ether (Brij® L4) (CI2H25(OCH2CH2)4OH). A suitable surfactant may include Polyoxyethylene (2) cetyl ether (Brij® 52)

[0156] (CI6H33(OCH2CH2)2OH).

[0157] A suitable surfactant may include Polyoxyethylene (2) stearyl ether (Brij® S2) (CI8H37(OCH2CH2)2OH).

[0158] The structures can be defined using the guide below:

[0159] CXH(2X+I)(OCH2CH2)VOH

[0160] A decrease in the HLB ratio increases the basefluid solubility and decreases aqueous solubility. This in turn means that the potential for the surfactant to cross over from oil phase to aqueous phase is lower as the HLB ratio decreases. If the HLB is too high, the material is hydrophilic and thus insoluble in the basefluid. If the HLB is too low, the material is too soluble in the basefluid and limits the effects of preventing aqueous droplet pinning. A preferred range for HLB is between 4-15. A range of HLB is between 7-12. A preferred range of HLB may be between 8- 10.

[0161] The peptide tag can be attached to the C or N terminus of the protein. The peptide tag may be one component of a green fluorescent protein (GFP). For example the peptide tag may be GFPn and the further polypeptide GFPi-io. The peptide tag may be one component of sfCherry. The peptide tag may be sfCherryn and the further polypeptide sfCherryi-w.

[0162] The protein may be fused to multiple tags. For example the protein may be fused to multiple GFPn peptide tags and the synthesis occurs in the presence of multiple GFPi-io polypeptides. For example the protein may be fused to multiple sfCherryn peptide tags and the synthesis occurs in the presence of multiple sfCherryno polypeptides. The protein of interest may be fused to one or more sfCherryn peptide tags and one or more GFPn peptide tags and the synthesis occurs in the presence of one or more GFP1-10 polypeptides and one or more sfCherryi-io polypeptides.

[0163] Assays improved by removing surfactants from the aqueous layer may include nucleic acid synthesis, nucleic acid construction or protein / protein interactions.

[0164] Devices

[0165] The manipulation of droplets by the application of electrical potential can be achieved on electrodes covered with an insulator or a dielectric or a series of insulators or dielectrics. Droplet manipulation as a result of an applied electrical potential is known as electrowetting. Electrokinesis occurs as result of a non-uniform electric field that influences the hydrostatic equilibrium of a dielectric liquid (dielectrophoresis or DEP) or a change in the contact angle of the liquid on solid surface (electrowetting-on-dielectric or EWoD). DEP can also be used to create forces on polarizable particles to induce their movement. The electrical signal can be transmitted to a discrete electrode, a transistor, an array of transistors, or a sheet of semiconductor film whose electrical properties can be modulated by an optical signal.

[0166] EWoD phenomena occur when droplets are actuated between two parallel electrodes covered with a hydrophobic insulator or dielectric. The electric field at the electrode-electrolyte interface induces a change in the surface tension, which results in droplet motion as a result of a change in droplet contact angle. The electrowetting effect can be quantitatively treated using Young-Lippmann equation: cos0 - cos0o= (l / 2yLG) c.V2where 0o is the contact angle when the electric field across the interfacial layer is zero, yLG is the liquid-gas tension, c is the specific capacitance (given as sr. so / t, where sris dielectric constant of the insulator / dielectric, so is permittivity of vacuum, t is thickness) and V is the applied voltage or electrical potential. The change in contact angle (inducing droplet movement) is thus a function of surface tension, electrical potential, dielectric thickness, and dielectric constant.

[0167] When a droplet is actuated by EWoD, there are two opposing sets of forces that act upon it: an electrowetting force induced by electric field and resistant forces that include the drag forces resulting from the interaction of the droplet with filler medium and the contact line friction (ref). The minimum voltage applied to balance the electrowetting force with the sum of all drag forces (threshold voltage) is variably determined by the thickness-to-dielectric contact ratio of the insulator / dielectric, (t / sr)1 / 2. Thus, to reduce actuation voltage, it is required to reduce (t / sr)1 / 2(i.e., increase dielectric constant or decrease insulator / dielectric thickness). To achieve low voltage actuation, thin insulator / dielectric layers must be used. However, the deposition of high quality thin insulator / dielectric layers is a technical challenge, and these thin layers are easily damaged before the desired electrowetting contact angle is large enough to drive the droplet is achieved. Most academic studies thus report the use of much higher voltages >100V on easily fabricated, thick dielectric films (>3 pm) to effect electrowetting.

[0168] High voltage EWoD-based devices with thick dielectric films, however, have limited industrial applicability largely due to their limited droplet multiplexing capability. The use of low voltage devices including thin-film transistors (TFT) and optically-activated amorphous silicon layers (a- Si) have paved the way for the industrial adoption of EWoD-based devices due to their greater flexibility in addressing electrical signals in a highly multiplex fashion. The driving voltage for TFTs or optically-activated a-Si are low (typically <15 V). The bottleneck for fabrication and thus adoption of low voltage devices has been the technical challenge of depositing high quality, thin film insulators / dielectrics. Hence there has been a particular need for improving the fabrication and composition of thin film insulator / dielectric devices.

[0169] Typically, the electrodes (or the array elements) used for EWoD are covered with (i) a hydrophilic insulator / dielectric and a hydrophobic coating or (ii) a hydrophobic insulator / dielectric. Commonly used hydrophobic coatings comprise of fluoropolymers such as Teflon AF 1600 or CYTOP. The thickness of this material as a hydrophobic coating on the dielectric is typically <100 nm and can have defects in the form of pinholes or a porous structure; hence, it is particularly important that the insulator / dielectric is pinhole free to avoid electrical shorting. Teflon has also been used as an insulator / dielectric, but it has higher voltage requirements due to its low dielectric constant and the thickness required to make it pinhole free. Other hydrophobic insulator / dielectric materials can include polymer-based dielectrics such as those based on siloxane, epoxy (e.g. SU-8), or parylene (e.g., parylene N, parylene C, parylene D, or parylene HT). Due to minimal contact angle hysteresis and a higher contact angle with aqueous solutions, Teflon is still used as a hydrophobic topcoat on these insulator / dielectric polymers. However, there are difficulties in reliably producing <1 micron pinhole-free coatings of parylene or SU-8; thus, the thickness of these materials is typically kept at a 2-5 microns at the cost of increased voltage requirements for electrowetting. It has also been reported that traditional EWoD devices with parylene C are easily broken and unstable for repeated droplet manipulation with cell culture medium. Multi-layer insulator devices deposited with metal-oxide and parylene C films have been used to produce a more robust insulator / dielectric and enable operations with lower applied voltages. Inorganic materials, such metal oxides and semiconductor oxides, commonly used in the CMOS industry as "gate dielectrics", have been used as insulator / dielectric for EWoD devices. They offer the advantage of utilizing standard cleanroom processes for thin film depositions (<100 nm). These materials are inherently hydrophilic, requiring an additional hydrophobic coating, and can be prone to pinhole formation as a result of thin film layer deposition process. Together with the need for lower voltage operations of EWoD, recent developmental work has focused on (1) using materials with improved dielectric properties (e.g., using high-dielectric constant insulators / dielectrics), (2) optimizing the fabrication process to make the insulator / dielectric pinhole free to avoid dielectric breakdown.

[0170] Operation of EWoD devices suffers from contact angle saturation and hysteresis, which is believed to be brought about by either one or combination of these phenomena: (1) entrapment of charges in the hydrophobic film or insulator / dielectric interface, (2) adsorption of ions, (3) thermodynamic contact angle instabilities, (4) dielectric breakdown of dielectric layer, (5) the electrode-electrode-insulator interface capacitance (arising from the double layer effect), and (6) fouling of the surface (such as by biomacromolecules). One of the adverse effects of this hysteresis is reduced operational lifetime of the EWoD-based device.

[0171] Contact angle hysteresis is believed to be a result of charge accumulation at the interface or within the hydrophobic insulator after several operations. The required actuation voltage increases due to this charging phenomenon resulting in eventual catastrophic dielectric breakdown. The most probable explanation is that pinholes at the insulator / dielectric may allow the liquid to come into contact with the electrode causing electrolysis. Electrolysis is further facilitated by pinhole-prone or porous hydrophobic insulators.

[0172] Most of the studies to understand contact angle hysteresis on EWoD have been conducted on short time scales and with low conductivity solutions. Long duration actuations (e.g., >1 hour) and high conductivity solutions (e.g., 1 M NaCI) could produce several effects other than electrolysis. The ions in solution can permeate through the hydrophobic coat (under the applied electric field) and interact with the underlying insulator / dielectric. Ion permeation can result in (1) change in dielectric constant due to charge entrapment (which is different from interfacial charging) and (2) change in surface potential of a pH sensitive metal oxide. Both can result in reduction of electrowetting forces to manipulate aqueous droplets, leading to contact angle hysteresis. The inventors have previously found that the damage from high conductivity solutions reduces or disables electrowetting on electrodes by inhibiting the modulation of contact angle when an electric field is applied.

[0173] An electrokinetic device includes a first substrate having a matrix of electrodes, wherein each of the matrix electrodes is coupled to a thin film transistor, and wherein the matrix electrodes are overcoated with a functional coating comprising: a dielectric layer in contact with the matrix electrodes, a conformal layer in contact with the dielectric layer, and a hydrophobic layer in contact with the conformal layer; a second substrate comprising a top electrode; a spacer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and defining an electrokinetic workspace; and a voltage source operatively coupled to the matrix electrodes.

[0174] The dielectric layer may comprise silicon dioxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride, hafnium oxide, yttrium oxide, lanthanum oxide, titanium dioxide, aluminum oxide, tantalum oxide, hafnium silicate, zirconium oxide, zirconium silicate, barium titanate, lead zirconate titanate, strontium titanate, or barium strontium titanate. The dielectric layer may be between 10 nm and 100 pm thick. Combinations of more than one material may be used, and the dielectric layer may comprise more than one sublayer that may be of different materials.

[0175] The conformal layer may comprise a parylene, a siloxane, or an epoxy. It may be a thin protective parylene coating in between the insulating dielectric and the hydrophobic coating. Typically, parylene is used as a dielectric layer on simple devices. In this invention, the rationale for deposition of parylene is not to improve insulation / dielectric properties such as reduction in pinholes, but rather to act as a conformal layer between the dielectric and hydrophobic layers. The inventors find that parylene, as opposed to other similar insulating coatings of the same thickness such as PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane), prevent contact angle hysteresis caused by high conductivity solutions or solutions deviating from neutral pH for extended hours. The conformal layer may be between 10 nm and 100 pm thick. The conformal layer may be between 100 nm and 200 nm thick.

[0176] The hydrophobic layer may comprise a fluoropolymer coating, fluorinated silane coating, manganese oxide polystyrene nanocomposite, zinc oxide polystyrene nanocomposite, precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon nanotube structure, silica nanocoating, or slippery liquid-infused porous coating. The elements may comprise one or more of a plurality of array elements, each element containing an element circuit; discrete electrodes; a thin film semiconductor in which the electrical properties can be modulated by incident light; and a thin film photoconductor whose properties can be modulated by incident light.

[0177] The functional coating may include a dielectric layer comprising silicon nitride, a conformal layer comprising parylene, and a hydrophobic layer comprising an amorphous fluoropolymer. This has been found to be a particularly advantageous combination.

[0178] The electrokinetic device may include a controller to regulate a voltage provided to the individual matrix electrodes. The electrokinetic device may include a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of gate lines, wherein each of the thin film transistors is coupled to a scan line and a gate line, and the plurality of gate lines are operatively connected to the controller. This allows all the individual elements to be individually controlled.

[0179] The second substrate may also comprise a second hydrophobic layer disposed on the second electrode. The first and second substrates may be disposed so that the hydrophobic layer and the second hydrophobic layer face each other, thereby defining the electrokinetic workspace between the hydrophobic layers.

[0180] The method is particularly suitable for aqueous droplets with a volume of 1 pL or smaller.

[0181] The EWoD-based devices shown and described below are active matrix thin film transistor devices containing a thin film dielectric coating with a Teflon hydrophobic top coat. These devices are based on devices described in the E Ink Corp patent filing on "Digital microfluidic devices including dual substrate with thin-film transistors and capacitive sensing", US patent application no 2019 / 0111433, incorporated herein by reference.

[0182] Described herein are electrokinetic devices, including: a first substrate having a matrix of electrodes, wherein each of the matrix electrodes is coupled to a thin film transistor, and wherein the matrix electrodes are overcoated with a functional coating comprising: a dielectric layer in contact with the matrix electrodes, a conformal layer in contact with the dielectric layer, and a hydrophobic layer in contact with the conformal layer; a second substrate comprising a top electrode; a spacer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and defining an electrokinetic workspace; and a voltage source operatively coupled to the matrix electrodes;

[0183] Described herein is an electrokinetic device, including: a first substrate having a matrix of electrodes, wherein each of the matrix electrodes is coupled to a thin film transistor, and wherein the matrix electrodes are overcoated with a functional coating comprising: one or more dielectric layer(s) comprising silicon nitride, hafnium oxide or aluminum oxide in contact with the matrix electrodes, a conformal layer comprising parylene in contact with the dielectric layer, and a hydrophobic layer in contact with the conformal layer; a second substrate comprising a top electrode; a spacer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and defining an electrokinetic workspace; and a voltage source operatively coupled to the matrix electrodes;

[0184] The electrokinetic devices as described may be used with other elements, such as for example devices for heating and cooling the device or reagent cartridges for the introduction of reagents as needed.

[0185] Applications of the invention

[0186] The invention can be used in a myriad of different applications. In particular the invention can be used to move cells, nucleic acids, nucleic acid templates, proteins, initiation oligonucleotide sequences for nucleic acid synthesis, beads, magnetic beads, cells immobilised on magnetic beads, or biopolymers immobilised on magnetic beads.

[0187] In these applications the steps of disposing an aqueous droplet having an ionic strength on a first matrix electrode and providing a differential electrical potential may be repeated many times. They may be repeated over 1000 times or over 10,000 times, sometimes over a 24 hour period.

[0188] The method of moving aqueous droplets may be used to help facilitate cell-free expression of peptides or proteins. In particular, droplets containing a nucleic acid template and a cell-free system having components for protein expression in an oil-filled environment can be moved using a method of the invention in the described electrokinetic device.

[0189] Protein Expression Applications

[0190] The method of moving aqueous droplets may also be used to help facilitate cell-free expression of peptides or proteins. In particular, droplets containing a nucleic acid template and a cell-free system having components for protein expression in an oil-filled environment can be moved using a method of the invention in the described electrokinetic device.

[0191] Disclosed herein is a method for the real-time monitoring of in-vitro protein synthesis comprising

[0192] 1. In-vitro transcription and translation of a protein of interest fused to a peptide tag; and

[0193] 2. monitoring the presence of the peptide tag using a further polypeptide which in the presence of the peptide tag produces a detectable signal.

[0194] Disclosed herein is a method for the monitoring of cell-free protein synthesis in a droplet on a digital microfluidic device comprising a. cell-free transcription and translation of a protein of interest fused to a peptide tag; and b. monitoring the presence of the peptide tag using a further polypeptide which in the presence of the peptide tag produces a detectable signal.

[0195] The detectable signal may be for example fluorescence or luminescence. The detectable signal may also be caused by the binding of a ligand to the complemented oligopeptide, peptide, or polypeptide tag fused to the protein of interest.

[0196] The detectable signal may also be caused by the binding of the polypeptide to the protein of interest fused to a His-tag.

[0197] Any in-vitro transcription and translation may be used, for example extract-based systems derived from rabbit reticulocyte lysate, human lysate, Chinese Hamster Ovary lysate, a wheat germ, HEK293 lysate, E. coli lysate, yeast lysate. Alternatively the in-vitro transcription and translation may be assembled from purified components, for example a system of purified recombinant elements (PURE).

[0198] The in-vitro transcription and translation may be coupled or uncoupled.

[0199] The peptide tag may be one component of a fluorescent protein and the further polypeptide a complementary portion of the fluorescent protein. The fluorescent protein could include sfGFP, GFP, ccGFP, eGFP, deGFP, frGFP, eYFP, eBFP, eCFP, Citrine, Venus, Cerulean, Dronpa, DsRED, mKate, mCherry, mRFP, FAST, SmURFP, miRFP670nano. For example the peptide tag may be GFPn and the further polypeptide GFPi-io. The peptide tag may be one component of sfCherry. The peptide tag may be sfCherryn and the further polypeptide sfCherryi-w. The peptide tag may be CFASTn or CFASTw and the further polypeptide NFAST in the presence of a hydroxybenzylidene rhodanine analog.

[0200] The peptide tag may also be one component of a protein that forms a detectable substrate, such as a luminescent or colorigenic substrate. The protein could include beta-galactosidase, beta-lactamase, or luciferase.

[0201] The protein may be fused to multiple tags. For example the protein may be fused to multiple GFPn peptide tags and the synthesis occurs in the presence of multiple GFPi-io polypeptides. For example the protein may be fused to multiple sfCherryn peptide tags and the synthesis occurs in the presence of multiple sfCherryno polypeptides. The protein of interest may be fused to one or more sfCherryn peptide tags and one or more GFPn peptide tags and the synthesis occurs in the presence of one or more GFPi-io polypeptides and one or more sfCherryi-io polypeptides.

[0202] Any protein of interest may be synthesised. The protein may be an enzyme, for example a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) enzyme or a truncated version thereof or the homologous amino acid sequence of a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) enzyme in other species or the homologous amino acid sequence of Polp, Poip, PoIX, and Pol0 of any species or the homologous amino acid sequence of X family polymerases of any species.

[0203] Protein expression typically requires an ample supply of oxygen. The most convenient and high yielding way to power CFPS is via oxidative phosphorylation where O2 serves as the final electron acceptor; however, there are other ways that involve replenishing with energy molecules not involved in oxidative phosphorylation. In a confined microfluidic or digital microfluidic system of droplets, insufficient oxygen is available to enable efficient protein synthesis.

[0204] Described herein are improved methods allowing for the cell-free expression of peptides or proteins in a digital microfluidic device. Included is a method for the cell-free expression of peptides or proteins in a microfluidic device wherein the method comprises one or more droplets containing a nucleic acid template (i.e., DNA or RNA) and a cell-free system having components for protein expression in an oil-filled environment, and moving said droplets using electrowetting. The components for the cell-free protein synthesis droplet can be pre-mixed prior to introduction to or mixed on the digital microfluidic device.

[0205] The droplet can be repeatedly moved for at least a period of 30 minutes whilst the protein is expressed. The droplet can be repeatedly moved for at least a period of two hours whilst the protein is expressed. The droplet can be repeatedly moved for at least a period of twelve hours whilst the protein is expressed. The act of moving the droplet allows oxygen to be supplied to the droplet and dispersed throughout the droplet. The act of moving improves the level of protein expression over a droplet which remains static.

[0206] The droplet can be moved using any means of electrowetting. The droplet can be moved using electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWoD). The electrical signal on the EWoD or optical EWoD device can be delivered through segmented electrodes, active-matrix thin-film transistors, or digital micromirrors.

[0207] The filler fluid in the device can be any water immiscible liquid. The filler fluid can be mineral oil, silicone oil such as octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (CTS), decamethyltetrasiloxane (DMTS) or dodecamethylpentasiloxane (DMPS), an alkyl-based solvent such as decane or dodecane, or a fluorinated oil. The filler fluid can be oxygenated prior to or during the expression process.

[0208] A source of supplemental oxygen can be supplied to the droplets. For example droplets or gas bubbles containing gaseous or dissolved oxygen can be merged with the droplets during the protein expression. Additionally, a source of supplemental oxygen can be found by oxygenating the oil that is used as the filler medium. It is well-known in the art that oils such as hexadecane, HFE-7500, and others can be oxygenated to support the oxygen requirements of cell growth, especially E. coli cell growth (RSCAdv., 2017, 7, 40990-40995). Oxygenation can be achieved by aerating the oil with pure oxygen or atmospheric air. The droplet can be formed before entering the microfluidic device and flowed into the device. Alternatively the droplets can be merged on the device. Included is a method comprising merging a first droplet containing a nucleic acid template such as a plasmid with a second droplet containing a cell-free system having the components for protein expression to form the droplet.

[0209] The droplets can be split on the device either before, during or after expression. Included herein is a method further comprising splitting the droplet into multiple droplets. If desired the split droplets can be screened with further additives. Included is a method wherein one of more of the split droplets are merged with additive droplets for screening.

[0210] Droplets can also contain additives to reduce the effects of biofouling on digital microfluidic surfaces. Specifically, droplets containing CFPS components can also contain additives such as surfactants or detergents to reduce the effects of biofouling on the hydrophobic or superhydrophobic surface of a digital microfluidic device (Langmuir 2011, 27, 13, 8586-8594).

[0211] The peptide tag can be attached to the C or N terminus of the protein. The peptide tag may be one component of a green fluorescent protein (GFP). For example the peptide tag may be GFPn and the further polypeptide GFPi-io. The peptide tag may be one component of sfCherry. The peptide tag may be sfCherryn and the further polypeptide sfCherryi-w.

[0212] The protein may be fused to multiple tags. For example the protein may be fused to multiple GFPn peptide tags and the synthesis occurs in the presence of multiple GFPi-io polypeptides. For example the protein may be fused to multiple sfCherryn peptide tags and the synthesis occurs in the presence of multiple sfCherryno polypeptides. The protein of interest may be fused to one or more sfCherryn peptide tags and one or more GFPn peptide tags and the synthesis occurs in the presence of one or more GFPi-io polypeptides and one or more sfCherryi-io polypeptides.

[0213] Where used herein "and / or" is to be taken as specific disclosure of each of the two specified features or components with or without the other. For example "A and / or B" is to be taken as specific disclosure of each of (i) A, (ii) B and (iii) A and B, just as if each is set out individually herein. Unless context dictates otherwise, the descriptions and definitions of the features set out above are not limited to any particular aspect or embodiment of the invention and apply equally to all aspects and embodiments which are described.

[0214] It will further be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example with reference to several embodiments. It is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and that alternative embodiments could be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0215] Experimental Details

[0216] Use of Single surfactant in oil phase

[0217] This experiment shows variations to the oil phase composition in terms of the span 85 content and how this may affect both the expression and construct specific binding of the commercial Nuclera eProtein Discovery™ system.

[0218] With the current deployed system we note that certain constructs (e.g. the template for DHFR) shows a droplet pinning interaction during the on-device protein synthesis reaction.

[0219] The currently deployed oil system is 0.1% span 85 in dodecamethylpentasiloxane. The aim of this experiment is to assess the impact on both expression and on device problematic protein synthesis reactions on a change in this parameter, an increase in the span 85 showing an assumed reduction in the surface tension of the system and vice versa.

[0220] The aim is to examine the use of a modified oil phase with an increase and decrease in the span 85 concentration. Experiments showing expression were performed with in tube oil atop studies, with variation in the span concentration for the expression control to examine the tolerance levels of this new surfactant with the core based CFPS reaction, as well as the on device effect for droplet operations and the pinning of problematic constructs. The solubility limit of the span 85 in the DMPS is ca. 0.25%.

[0221] Tube based expression of fluorescent protein ccGFP is shown in Figure 1 and plotted in Figure 2. The samples are left in the oven at 29 oC overnight and removed the following day to measure the protein output via the fluorescent signal, post extraction from the oil phase. The oil overlay has no significant impact on expression levels, as shown in Figure 2.

[0222] 0.2% span 85 in DMPS 0.1% span 85 in DMPS

[0223] 0.05% span 85 in DMPS

[0224] 0% span 85 in DMPS

[0225] No oil control

[0226] 0.2% Span 85 in DMPS

[0227] = 80 mg Span 85 in 39.92 mL DMPS

[0228] Actual amount weighed accounted for:

[0229] 78.2 mg Span in 39.02 mL DMPS

[0230] Vortex thoroughly before dilution to 0.1%

[0231] 0.1% Span 85 in DMPS

[0232] = 0.2% solution (20 mL) + DMPS (20 mL)

[0233] 0.05% Span 85 in DMPS

[0234] = 0.1% solution (20 mL) + DMPS (20 mL)

[0235] The cartridge loading and droplet operations were poor with the removal of this oil based surfactant and cannot be considered.

[0236] With an increase in the concentration of Span85 to 0.2% the pinning of the problematic DHFR construct was still observed, as shown in Figure 3, the pinning looked more rectangular is shape than would typically be seen. Thus a simple increase in the amount of detergent does not address the issue of DHFR causing droplet pinning. 0.2% is near the solubility limit of the span 85 in the silicone oil so the concentration can not be further increased.

[0237] Bri jL4 as a basefluid additive

[0238] Titration studies of Brij L4 on cartridge. Brij L4 concentrations used herein are at 0.005% (50 ppm) and 0.0025% (25 ppm) and 0.0075% (75 ppm). All data is presented below for the presence of Brij L4 in the basefluid for three protein constructs that are found to pin in the absence of Brij L4.

[0239] Data presented below for the presence of Brij L4 in the basefluid for a construct known to pin: For Brij L4 concentrations at and above 0.05% the surface tension of the system was too low to be used. For the pinning of the DHFR, all concentrations of Brij L4 (0.1 - 0.005%) within the oil alleviated the system of the pinning. At the 0.001% level, pinning of the DHFR construct was seen. This means that at least for the DHFR construct the lower limit of this in terms of usefulness is between 0.005% and 0.0025% (25 ppm) as an basefluid additive.

[0240] Figure 4 shows the effects of Brij L4 as a basefluid additive. Figure 4a shows images where the droplets of DHFR protein having 25 ppm Brij L4 in basefluid pin and cause further liquid to accumulate in the pinned areas. The larger droplets in the top of the images are unable to be moved using electrowetting. Figure 4b uses 50 ppm Brij L4, and no pinning or accumulation is seen and all droplets can be moved when the same proteins are expressed in the droplets.

[0241] Study on panel of proteins

[0242] A panel of proteins were studied including proteins as shown below:

[0243] DHFR

[0244] SUMO-DHFR

[0245] P17-IFNg

[0246] IFNg

[0247] DLL3(27-618)

[0248] DLL3(27-492)

[0249] I13R1

[0250] TRX-MLKL

[0251] YIPPL

[0252] Repeated runs were performed on the Nuclera eProtein Discovery™ system and the number of stalled / pinned droplets recorded after the protein expression step. Results are summarised in the table below:

[0253] Representative images from pinned devices which do not have the additional surfactant in the basefluid and device having the surfactant and shown in Figure 5.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A digital microfluidic device comprising a two-dimensional array of planar electrodes wherein the device comprises a population of aqueous droplets containing protein, wherein the aqueous droplets are within a bulk oil phase and wherein the bulk oil phase contains two or more non-ionic surfactants, wherein a first surfactant is a sorbitan ester and a second surfactant is a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether.

2. A digital microfluidic device comprising a two-dimensional array of planar electrodes wherein the device comprises a population of aqueous droplets containing protein within a bulk oil phase, wherein the bulk oil phase contains a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether Brij® L4.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the bulk oil phase contains a mixture of a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether selected from Brij® L4, Brij® S2 or Brij® 52 and a sorbitan ester.

4. The device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the bulk oil phase contains a mixture of polyethylene (4) glycol dodecyl ether (Brij® L4) (CizHzsfOCHjCHz^OH) and sorbitan trioleate.

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the aqueous droplets contain a pluronic surfactant6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the pluronic surfactant is Pluronic F127.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the oil is mineral oil, silicone oil, an alkyl-based solvent, or a fluorinated oil.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the oil is octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (CTS), decamethyltetrasiloxane (DMTS), dodecamethylpentasiloxane, decane or dodecane.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the oil is or dodecamethylpentasiloxane.

10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the sorbitan ester is Span85.

11. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the concentration of the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether is between 25 and 1000 parts per million volume.

12. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 having a filler fluid of 0.1% span85 and 75 ppm Brij L4 in dodecamethylpentasiloxane (DMPS).

13. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the droplets are moved, split or combined using a subset of the electrodes on the device.

14. A method for the cell-free expression of peptides or proteins in a digital microfluidic device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the method comprises one or more droplets containing a nucleic acid template and a cell-free system havingcomponents for protein expression containing a first surfactant in an oil-filled environment, wherein the oil contains a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether selected from Brij® L4, Brij® S2 or Brij® 52, and moving said droplets using electrowetting-on- dielectric (EWoD).

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the cell-free system is a cell-free extract for protein expression.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the cell-free system is prepared from individual reagents.

17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16 comprising merging a first droplet containing a nucleic acid plasmid with a second droplet containing a cell-free system having the components for protein expression to form a combined droplet on the microfluidic device.

18. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 17 comprising merging a plurality of first droplets containing a nucleic acid template with a plurality of second droplets containing a cell-free system having the components for protein expression to form multiple combined droplets capable of cell-free protein synthesis.

19. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the expressed peptides or proteins are detected by optical means.

20. The method for the cell-free expression of peptides or proteins in a digital microfluidic device having an oil-filled environment comprising a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether, the method comprising: a. taking a plurality of droplets having a different nucleic acid template, b. taking a plurality of droplets each containing a cell-free system having the components for protein expression, c. combining the droplets of a. and b. using electrowetting-on-dielectric phenomena to produce a plurality of droplets capable of expressing proteins of different sequence, the droplets containing a first surfactant, d. mixing the droplets to enable cell-free protein expression, and e. detecting the expression of proteins within individual droplets.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the polyoxyethylene alkyl ether has a hydrophobic / lipophilic balance (HLB) of between 7-12.

22. The method according to claim 20 or claim 21, wherein the polyoxyethylene alkyl ether is Brij® L4.

23. A kit for preparing a plurality of peptide or proteins comprising a. a digital microfluidic device;b. a reagent source to generate a plurality of droplets containing a cell-free system having the components for protein expression and a first surfactant; and c. an oil, optionally mineral oil, silicone oil, an alkyl-based solvent such as decane or dodecane or a fluorinated oil or a mix thereof, wherein the oil contains a contains a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether Brij® L4.

24. The kit according to claim 23, wherein the oil further contains Span85.

25. The kit according to claim 23 or claim 24, wherein the oil is octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (CTS), decamethyltetrasiloxane (DMTS) or dodecamethylpentasiloxane (DMPS).

26. The kit according to any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein the concentration of the polyethylene glycol alkyl ether Brij® L4 is between 25 and 2000 parts per million volume.

Images