Microcalorimetry for High-Throughput Screening of Bioenergetics

A calorimetric sensor for high-throughput screening of bioenergetics, comprising:

• a substrate defining an interior cavity;
• a thermally and electrically insulating membrane extending from the substrate across the interior cavity;
• a plurality of thermally conductive strips bonded to the thermally and electrically insulating membrane;
• a first thermopile on the thermally and electrically insulating membrane and comprising a plurality of thermocouples connected in series, wherein the thermocouples of the first thermopile extend between the first thermally conductive strip and the second thermally conductive strip and provide thermal communication therebetween and are configured to provide a measurement of a temperature difference between the first and second thermally conductive strips;
• a thermally and electrically insulating coating on the thermally and electrically insulating membrane, the thermally conductive strips, and the first thermopile, wherein these components, together, form a sensing assembly;
• a sample capillary with a hydrophilic surface adhered to the thermally and electrically insulating coating opposite a first of the thermally conductive strips via application of water at an interface of the sample capillary and the thermally and electrically insulating coating and via capillary action during evaporation of the water;
• and
• a first reference capillary with a hydrophilic surface adhered to the thermally and electrically insulating coating opposite a second of the thermally conductive strips via application of water at an interface of the reference capillary and the thermally and electrically insulating coating and via capillary action during evaporation of the water.