Abstract: Techniques for hydrogel microstructures with oil isolation for small reaction volumes include providing a hydrogel microstructure that has a plurality of pores and a hydrogel frame surrounding the pores. The microstructure has a volume in a range from about 1 picoliter to about 10,000 picoliters and is configured to repel an immiscible fluid. Each pore of the plurality of pores has a pore size configured to pass the target molecule in a first solution. The microstructure is contacted with the first solution, and with a second solution that includes a reactant molecule that reacts with the target molecule to produce an observable product molecule. The microstructure is encompassed with the immiscible fluid for an extended observation duration from about 1 to about 10,000 seconds, wherein the immiscible fluid does not pass into the pores but traps the product in the microstructure. The observable product molecule is measured at some time during the observation duration.

Abstract: Techniques for hydrogel microstructures with oil isolation for small reaction volumes include providing a hydrogel microstructure that has a plurality of pores and a hydrogel frame surrounding the pores. The microstructure has a volume in a range from about 1 picoliter to about 10,000 picoliters and is configured to repel an immiscible fluid. Each pore of the plurality of pores has a pore size configured to pass the target molecule in a first solution. The microstructure is contacted with the first solution, and with a second solution that includes a reactant molecule that reacts with the target molecule to produce an observable product molecule. The microstructure is encompassed with the immiscible fluid for an extended observation duration from about 1 to about 10,000 seconds, wherein the immiscible fluid does not pass into the pores but traps the product in the microstructure. The observable product molecule is measured at some time during the observation duration.