Homogeneous, heterogeneous, and enzyme catalysis in microfluidics droplets

Abstract

Abstract Microfluidics 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.

Keywords

• enzyme catalysis
• heterogeneous catalysis
• homogeneous catalysis
• microfluidic droplet
• supramolecular chemistry