Light-controlled electrokinetic assembly of particles near surfaces

A method of implementing a bioanalytical assay comprising the following steps:

• dynamically assembling an array of particles at an interface between an electrode and an electrolyte solution, the method comprising the following steps:
• providing an electrode, an electrolyte solution and an interface therebetween;
• providing a plurality of particles located in said electrolyte solution, said plurality of particles including a first type of particle and a second type of particle different from said first type;
• illuminating said electrode with a predetermined light pattern;
• and
• generating an electric field at said interface to cause the assembly of an array of particles in accordance with the predetermined light pattern of said electrode;
• and
• implementing a biochemical protocol which effects a biochemical interaction between said first type of molecule and a corresponding first type of analyte to form a first type of paired entity, and a biochemical interaction between said second type of molecule and a corresponding second type of analyte to form a second type of paired entity.

A method for performing multiple chemical and biochemical analytical procedures using at least one particle array, said method comprising the following steps:

• providing an electrode and an electrolyte solution having an interface therebetween;
• generating an electric field at an interface between an electrode and an electrolyte solution;
• patterning said electrode to modify the electrochemical properties of said electrode;
• illuminating said surface with a predetermined light pattern to control the movement of said particles in accordance with said predetermined light pattern and the electrochemical properties of said electrode;
• performing a first procedure on a portion of said particles to produce a first reaction set of particles;
• isolating said first reaction set of particles in accordance with said predetermined light pattern;
• and
• performing a second procedure on said first reaction set of particles to produce a second reaction set of particles.

A method of manipulating nucleic acid, including DNA or RNA, comprising the following steps:

• providing an electrode, an electrolyte solution and an interface therebetween;
• providing a plurality of nucleic acid molecules in said electrolyte solution, said nucleic acid molecules being in a coiled configuration;
• generating an electric field at said interface to cause the movement of said particles;
• illuminating said electrode with a predetermined light pattern to create controlled gradients in the flow velocity across the nucleic acid, said velocity gradient causing different portions of the nucleic acid to move at different velocities such that the nucleic acid is stretched in the direction of the local velocity gradient;
• and
• maintaining a stagnation point of zero velocity such that the nucleic acid is substantially fixed in position.

A bioanalytical assay implemented using at least one array of particles, said particles being suspended at an interface between an electrode and an electrolyte solution, said assay comprising:

• an electrode and an electrolyte solution therebetween;
• a plurality of molecules located in said electrolyte, said molecules including a first type of molecule and a second type of molecule;
• a biochemical protocol implementation unit which effects a biochemical interaction between said first and second types of molecules, said interaction resulting in the formation of paired entities, and said implementation unit operating to detect the formation of said paired entity;
• a plurality of particles located in said electrolyte solution;
• an electric field generator which generates an electric field at said interface;
• said electrode being patterned to include at least one area of modified electrochemical properties;
• and
• an illumination source positioned to illuminate said surface with a predetermined light pattern to control the movement of said particles in accordance with said predetermined light pattern and the electrochemical properties of said electrode.

An apparatus for performing multiple chemical and biochemical analytical procedures using at least one particle array, said apparatus comprising:

• an electrode and an electrolyte solution having an interface therebetween;
• an electric field generator which generates an electric field at an interface between an electrode and an electrolyte solution;
• said electrode being patterned to modify the electrochemical properties of said electrode;
• an illuminating source which illuminates said surface with a predetermined light pattern to control the movement of said particles in accordance with said predetermined light pattern and the electrochemical properties of said electrode;
• means for performing a first procedure on a portion of said particles to produce a first reaction set of particles;
• means for isolating said first reaction set of particles in accordance with said predetermined light pattern;
• and
• means for performing a second procedure on said first reaction set of particles to produce a second reaction set of particles.

An apparatus for manipulating nucleic acid, including DNA or RNA, said apparatus comprising:

• an electrode, an electrolyte solution and an interface therebetween;
• a plurality of nucleic acid molecules in said electrolyte solution, said nucleic acid molecules being in a coiled configuration;
• an electric field generator which generates an electric field at said interface to cause the movement of said particles;
• said electrode being patterned to include areas of modified electrochemical properties which in conjunction with said electric field create controlled gradients in the flow velocity across the nucleic acid, said velocity gradient causing different portions of the nucleic acid to move at different velocities such that the nucleic acid is stretched in the direction of the local velocity gradient, wherein a stagnation point of zero velocity is maintained such that the nucleic acid is substantially fixed in position;
• and
• an illumination source which illuminates said electrode with a predetermined light pattern to create controlled gradients in the flow velocity across the nucleic acid, said velocity gradient causing different portions of the nucleic acid to move al different velocities such that the nucleic acid is stretched in the direction of the local velocity gradient.