Systems and methods for rapidly changing the solution environment around sensors
AssigneeCellectricon AB
InventorsOwe Orwar, Daniel Chiu, Johan Pihl, Jon Sinclair, Jessica Olofsson, Mattias Karlsson, Kent Jardemark
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Abstract
The invention provides microfluidic systems for altering the solution environment around a nanoscopic or microscopic object, such as a sensor, and methods for using the same. The invention can be applied in any sensor technology in which the sensing element needs to be exposed rapidly, sequentially, and controllably, to a large number of different solution environments whose characteristics may be known or unknown.
Claims170
A system, comprising:
- a substrate for changing a solution environment around a sensor, the substrate comprising a plurality of channels, each channel comprising an outlet;
- and
- a scanning mechanism for selectively exposing a sensor to a fluid stream from an outlet.
A system comprising a substrate for changing a solution environment around a sensor, the substrate comprising:
- an open-volume chamber for receiving a sensor;
- and
- a plurality of channels, each channel comprising an outlet for delivering a substantially separate fluid stream into the chamber.
A system, comprising:
- a substrate for changing a solution environment around a sensor, the substrate comprising a plurality of channels, each channel comprising an outlet for delivering a substantially separate fluid stream to a sensor;
- and
- a processor for controlling delivery of fluid from each channel to the sensor.
The system of claim 84, wherein the mixing channel provides a fluid comprising a varying concentration of a substance.
A method for generating an activated receptor, comprising
- a) providing a substrate, the substrate comprising:
- a chamber comprising a cell-based biosensor comprising a receptor which is activated by an agonist;
- and
- a plurality of delivery channels delivering agonist, antagonist, or both agonist and antagonist, each channel comprising an outlet for delivering a substantially separate aqueous stream into the chamber;
- and
- b) selectively exposing the biosensor to a fluid stream from one or more outlets.
A method for detection of a modulator of a receptor, comprising
- a) providing a substrate, the substrate comprising:
- a chamber comprising a cell-based biosensor, the biosensor comprising the receptor;
- and
- a plurality of channels, each channel comprising an outlet for delivering a substantially separate fluid stream into the chamber;
- and
- a scanning mechanism for selectively exposing the biosensor to a fluid stream from one or more outlets,
- b) providing a sample suspected of containing a modulator to at least one of the channels;
- c) measuring the response of the biosensor as it is selectively exposed to a fluid stream comprising the sample, wherein a change in the response of the biosensor indicates the presence of a modulator in the sample.
The method of 87, wherein the channels deliver a buffer, at least one agonist;
- at least one antagonist;
- at least one agonist and a buffer;
- at least one antagonist and a buffer;
- or at least one antagonist, at least one agonist, and a buffer.
A method for changing a solution environment locally around a nanoscopic or microscopic object, comprising:
- (a) providing a substrate, comprising:
- a chamber comprising the nanoscopic or microscopic object and a fluid;
- and
- a plurality of channels, each channel comprising an outlet intersecting with the chamber;
- (b) delivering substantially separate streams of fluid into the chamber, at least two of the streams comprising different fluids;
- (c) scanning the object sequentially across the at least two streams, thereby altering the aqueous solution environment around the object.
The method of 85 or 87, or 115, wherein the streams flowing in at least two channels flows at different velocities.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.