The RainStorm Difference

There are several attributes which differentiate RainStorm™ microdroplet-based technology from other research platforms and traditional emulsion chemistry. The defining characteristics of RainStorm technology are the CONSISTENCY, STABILITY, and CONTROL of our droplets, which provide great benefits to many life science workflows.

The first key attribute of the RainStorm droplet is CONSISTENCY of droplet size. The video shown demonstrate droplets generated of a consistent size – with as little as 1% variation in droplet size. The consistency is achieved by a combination of microfluidic chip design and high-precision pumps. We are typically working with droplet volumes on the order of 5-25 pL; however the technology is capable of generating droplets from the sub-pL to 100 nL range. This consistency allows for the development of statistically powerful assays with reproducible experimental conditions, robust operation, and simplified procedures.

 Droplet Generation
High-speed videos have been slowed down by a factor of 1,000 to visualize individual droplets. The droplets are flowing at the rate of 3,000 per second.

Droplets are generated by infusing aqueous samples (cells, enzymes, DNA, etc.) at a perpendicular angle to opposing oil streams. Surfactants present in the oil stabilize the droplets while providing a biocompatible environment for the contents of the droplets.

The second key attribute is the STABILITY of RainStorm droplets. RainDance has focused significant resources on the development of oil and surfactant chemistry. We have demonstrated that RainStorm droplets are extremely stable – allowing for the shipment and storage of droplets for extended periods of time without the loss of droplet integrity. One of the objectives achieved in the development of RainStorm chemistry was to ensure not only droplet stability, but the ability to provide a simple and reproducible process for recovering biological material from the droplets. This allows the technology platform to handle both analytical and preparative applications.

 Droplet Loading
High-speed videos have been slowed down by a factor of 1,000 to visualize individual droplets. The droplets are flowing at the rate of 3,000 per second.

Droplets are loaded into microfluidic chips and spaced out within an oil stream at regular intervals for further processing operations.

The third key attribute is the CONTROL provided by the microfluidic elements and near real-time signal processing used to manipulate the droplets at high rates (3,000 events per second). The videos below show the generation of uniform droplets, the positioning and combining of two droplets, and the detection and sorting of droplets. In fact, just about any operation that researchers can do in a plate, but which might require expensive robotic handling to scale the application, can be done on our chips. In addition, these RainStorm droplet attributes allow us to design chip operations without the use of moving parts or valves. This lack of complexity leads to reproducibility and consistency allowing ultimate control and extremely reliable performance.

 Droplet Merging
High-speed videos have been slowed down by a factor of 1,000 to visualize individual droplets. The droplets are flowing at the rate of 3,000 per second.)

Pairs of droplets are merged together in the presence of an electric field generated by electrodes embedded within the microfluidic chip.

 Droplet Sorting
High-speed videos have been slowed down by a factor of 1,000 to visualize individual droplets. The droplets are flowing at the rate of 3,000 per second.

Droplets are sorted by the application of an electric field gradient to direct droplets to one of two collection streams. Sorting decisions are based on the product of a cell, enzyme, or chemical reaction within each droplet.