Homogeneous, heterogeneous, and enzyme catalysis in microfluidics droplets

• DOI: 10.1002/smo.20220001
• Publication Date: 2023-04-18T06:10:52Z
• Authors: Fang Mei; Hongyu Lin; Lianrui Hu; Wei‐Tao Dou; Hai‐Bo Yang; Lin Xu
• Keywords: Chemistry; heterogeneous catalysis; enzyme catalysis; homogeneous catalysis; QD1-999; 01 natural sciences; microfluidic droplet; supramolecular chemistry; 0104 chemical sciences

AbstractMicrofluidics has received extensive attention due to its ability to rapidly prepare a large number of microdroplets with controlled sizes and defined morphologies. In addition to having large surface areas and controllable confinement environments, these prepared microdroplets can be used as analytical detection devices to screen and optimize various kinetic parameters. This review summarizes recent advances in the microfluidic control of droplet‐based catalytic reactions and discusses the role of these droplets in both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyzes and in the catalysis of macromolecular biological enzymes in water‐in‐oil and oil‐in‐oil environments. Additionally, the existing problems and future development directions of droplets in catalysis are highlighted to promote the development of catalytic reactions in droplet media and provide guidance for the high‐throughput screening of catalysts and the directed evolution of biological enzymes.