Bulk Titanium Microfluidic Networks for Protein Self-assembly Studies

We report the use of a newly developed micromachining technique to fabricate microfluidic networks in thin titanium foils. These devices are used to geometrically confine and align self-assembled protein systems for confocal microscopy and transmission x-ray scattering experiments. X-ray attenuation can be easily reduced or eliminated from the thin foil devices by backside etching or through-etching the substrate. A surface modification technique has been integrated into the fabrication process in order to minimize protein adsorption to the titanium. These devices have been used to study both actin filament bundles and microtubules under physiologically relevant conditions.