Modulating Flow Topology in Microdroplets to Control Reaction Kinetics

In traditional reaction flasks, the reaction rate of macromolecular compounds is dictated by the concentrations and distribution of reactants along with their intrinsic reaction kinetics. Controlling reaction kinetics in microfluidic droplets has been proposed through the regulation of flow dynamics, but is yet to be demonstrated experimentally. Here, this hypothesis is verified by accelerating or suppressing macromolecular reactant mixing in microfluidic droplets. The control of reaction kinetics through the modulation of flow topology in microdroplets may enable further developments in modeling macromolecular systems.