Microfluidic automation platform for synthetic biology applications in the development and production of next-generation biofuels

Generating and screening multiple combinations of genes, enzymes, and other biological parts has become vital to next generation biofuel development and production. This currently requires large personnel costs and sizeable capital investments in robotics equipment. Commercial adoption of the synthetic biology technology will require high throughput capabilities, low cost, product reliability, and full automation with minimal human intervention. HJ Science & amp; Technology, Inc. proposes to demonstrate the feasibility of an automated, programmable, low-cost, and compact platform capable of running rapid and complex bioengineering processes and optimization of next generation biofuel development and production. Our approach leverages a Technology Transfer Opportunity developed by the Joint BioEnergy Institute for microfluidic automation of combinatorial DNA assembly, cell transformation, and screening of cells. The microfluidic automation platform offers significant labor savings by simplifying and accelerating the process and forgoes the need for robotics as well as reduces costs by using much smaller volumes of reagent materials. In Phase I, we will establish the feasibility of the proposed microfluidic automation technology by engineering and screening E. coli cells for the production of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE). By performing all three key operations: 1) construction of a plasmid containing genes for FAEE production in E. coli, and 2) subsequent transformation into E. coli cells/chromosomal integration and screening of expression products, on the same microfluidic chip in a fully automated format, we can assess the FAEE production yield as a function the gene variant in almost real time, thereby greatly enhancing the overall efficiency of the FAEE production process. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: In addition to biofuel, the proposed microfluidic automation technology has combinatorial DNA construction and functional screening in these industries: 1) pharmaceuticals, especially protein-based drugs, 2) agriculture, 3) bio-based chemicals, 4) biotechnology, 6) enzymes, and 7) DNA synthesis. The proposed technology will also greatly benefit the life-science instrumentation and microfluidic device industries.