Researchers Develop Microfluidic Device to Dramatically Reduce Protein Sample Waste for X-Ray Laser Experiments

New technology cuts sample consumption by up to 97% while still producing high-quality structural data

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Researchers at Arizona State University and their international colleagues have developed a microfluidic droplet injector that delivers protein crystals to an X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) beam in tiny, precisely timed packets rather than as a continuous stream. This new device dramatically reduces the amount of precious protein samples required for these experiments, which typically consume enormous amounts of material, making many studies inaccessible. The technology could accelerate drug discovery, enable the study of rare proteins, and unlock the full potential of next-generation X-ray laser facilities.

Why it matters

Watching proteins move as they drive the chemical reactions that sustain life is a grand challenge in modern biology. X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) have enabled researchers to capture ultrafast snapshots of molecules as they shift shape during a reaction, but the technique consumes enormous amounts of precious protein samples, putting many studies out of reach. This new microfluidic device addresses this limitation, opening the door to many experiments that were previously inaccessible.

The details

The new microfluidic droplet injector delivers protein crystals to an XFEL beam in tiny, precisely timed packets rather than as a continuous stream. This cuts sample consumption by as much as 97% while still producing high-quality structural data. The device is built using high-resolution 3D printing and integrates tiny channels that mix solutions and form droplets on demand. It is compatible with the extremely rapid pulse structure of modern XFEL facilities, allowing researchers to fully exploit the capabilities of these instruments without wasting valuable samples.

  • The new study appears in the current issue of the journal Communications Chemistry.

The players

Alexandra Ros

Lead author of the new study and a researcher with the Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery and the School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University.

Arizona State University

The university where the researchers who developed the microfluidic droplet injector are based.

Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

An international research organization that collaborated with the ASU researchers on this project.

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What they’re saying

“Seeing proteins react in real time is incredibly powerful, but the sample demands to unravel dynamic protein behavior with X-ray crystallography have been a major limitation. Our droplet approach dramatically reduces that burden, which is exciting because many more labs can now ask dynamic questions that were previously too costly or impractical.”

— Alexandra Ros, Lead author of the new study (Communications Chemistry)

What’s next

The researchers plan to further develop the microfluidic droplet injector technology to enable the study of rare proteins that are difficult to produce in large quantities, as well as to accelerate drug discovery by showing how medicines interact with their protein targets in real time.

The takeaway

This new microfluidic device dramatically reduces the amount of precious protein samples required for X-ray laser experiments, opening the door to many studies that were previously too costly or impractical. The technology could have far-reaching impacts, from accelerating drug discovery to enabling deeper insights into disease and unlocking the full potential of next-generation X-ray laser facilities.