Methods and systems for releasing intracellular material from cells within microfluidic samples of fluids

A microfluidic device, comprising:

• a lysing module configured to receive a microdroplet of cell-containing sample;
• a lysing mechanism within the lysing module, configured to release intracellular contents from cells in the microdroplet of cell-containing sample within the lysing module;
• a first gas actuator situated upstream of the lysing module and configured to move the microdroplet of cell-containing sample downstream to overlap the lysing module;
• a positioning element located downstream of the lysing module and configured to inhibit downstream movement of the cell containing sample, thereby positioning at least some of the cell containing sample in a lysing position with respect to the lysing module;
• and
• a second gas actuator disposed upstream from the lysing module but downstream from the first actuator, to provide a gas pressure sufficient to:
• (a) prepare a lysed microdroplet comprising intracellular contents released from cells of the cell-containing sample within the lysing module, the microdroplet having a length equal to a distance between the second gas actuator and the positioning element and (b) move the lysed microdroplet downstream of the lysing module and past the positioning element.

A method for lysing a microdroplet of cell-containing liquid, comprising:

• introducing the microdroplet of cell-containing liquid to a lysing module of a microfluidic device;
• inhibiting the microdroplet of cell-containing liquid from moving downstream from the lysing module;
• actuating a lysing mechanism to release intracellular contents from cells of the cell-containing liquid within the lysing module;
• and
• providing a gas pressure sufficient to separate a first portion of the microdroplet of cell-containing liquid located within the lysing module from a second portion of the microdroplet of cell-containing liquid located upstream of the lysing module thereby preparing a lysed microdroplet comprising intracellular contents released from cells of the cell-containing liquid within the lysing module.