Abstract: In an embodiment. the present disclosure pertains to environmental biospecimen recovery after in-droplet gel encapsulation (eBRIDGE) platforms for co-culturing multiple microorganisms in gel microspheres and then transferring single-cell-derived clonal populations from within the gel microspheres into separate water-in-oil emulsion droplets for further processing and analysis. In some embodiments. the gel-encapsulated bacteria are released by lysing the gel matrix using an enzyme. The methods of the present disclosure provide a single workflow that goes from environmental microbial harvesting and amplification to functional interrogation of their characteristics.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a droplet system, apparatus, or fluid sample testing system to accomplish high-precision and high-efficiency droplet manipulation (e.g., greater than 99% platform operation efficiency). In some embodiments, the droplet system, apparatus, or fluid sample testing system includes at least one microfluidic channel or chamber and at least one interdigitated electrode (IDE) that can create a localized electric field below and/or within at least one fluidic channel or chamber. In some embodiments, this allows size-specific and/or size-dependent droplet manipulation.